“If you find the right Chinese business partner you will never be able to do more for them than they will do for you

“The Chinese give first; they are the best business partners you can get in the world.”

City of Joondalup chief executive Garry Hunt said he had noticed a change in China on his City delegation’s latest trip there last year.

“I’ve been to China four times,” he said.

“The last trip was mind-blowing. It was fundamentally different, the free trade agreement was in the process of being finalised… The formalities and protocols are there at the beginning for about 10 minutes then the questions are very direct ‘how can we do business, can you take 500 students?’. We think of taking 50… the numbers are mind-boggling.

“The potential is massive, it’s important we do something about it. Commercial services, education and tourism are the cornerstone industries of the City of Joondalup.

“Can I tell you they are also cornerstone industries of any developing country. We are in a fundamentally unique position.”